New capacity on stream for Subcon

With UK manufacturing continuing to surge ahead, exhibitors are coming to Subcon on a high and using the show to highlight new investments.

And although the news focus is often on new technologies and sectors, much of this strong growth is coming from the traditional metal-based sectors.

Subcon 2014, which runs at the NEC, Birmingham, from 3 to 5 June, is the only UK trade show dedicated to contract and subcontract manufacturing.

The show covers every aspect of outsourced manufacturing services, from design and prototyping through to final production and testing, and covers all areas of manufacturing technologies. In the metals engineering sector, technologies covered span all aspects of machining and fabrication, as well as associated areas such as materials supply, treatments and the manufacture of mould tools.

Exhibitors are investing to meet growing customer demand, and anticipating new business from their participation at Subcon.

Precision machining specialist WLR has responded to customer demand with significant machine tool investments that include a Matsuura MX520 5-axis vertical machining centre, while gear specialist Ondrives has installed a new Niles-Kapp profile grinding machine that will take the company to the next level in terms of precision for demanding applications, such as aerospace. This follows other recent investments, including a Mori Seiki 5-axis milling machine that can machine complex work pieces in two setups.

Sheet metal specialist Akramatic is exhibiting at Subcon 2014 off the back of a record year for business and expects this success to continue this year and beyond. In anticipation, it has invested in new equipment, including an Amada 100-tonne 3m press brake, NC tube bender and a new 7.5-tonne delivery vehicle.

The WEC Group, which specialises in fabrication, laser and waterjet cutting, CNC machining and heavy engineering, has bought an additional six-acre site in Blackburn. It plans to build a new 120,000 sq ft plant to allow it to continue its growth in sectors including in aerospace. WEC opened two new factories in 2013 and its waterjet division, which was launched at Subcon 2013, has recently won a £750,000 order from the offshore industry.

Aluminium specialist Edmo is expanding too, having just opened a new plant in the Black Country that will take on 30 new staff. This follows extensive investment at its Ross-on-Wye headquarters, including new powder coating plant, bar length and paint lines, as well as, most recently, new pre-treatment tanks.

Davis Scientific has also just completed a substantial programme of investment. The heat treatment specialist, which is coming to Subcon with new owners and management, has refurbished its vacuum furnaces and cryogenic facilities, installed a new furnace and upgraded its tempering oven installation – by operating relatively small furnaces it can run plant to meet customers’ specific delivery schedules.

Grant Burgham, Business Development and Portfolio Director at Centaur Exhibitions, the organiser of Subcon 2014, said: 'As companies ramp up their production to meet increasing demand they want to find suppliers who have the capacity and technology to meet that demand. With so many exhibitors investing to enhance their capacity there is even more on offer for visitors to the show.'